Drain cleaner



April 16, 1963 o. J. LA RocQuE DRAIN CLEANER Filed Dec. 5, 1961 INVENTOR. OVILA J. LA ROCQUE dll-qmmzL-c mm United States Patent 3,685,585 DRAIN CLEANER Ovila Joseph La Rocque, 802 Patterson St., Ogdensburg, N.Y. Filed Dec. 5, 1961, Ser. No. 157,119 Claims. ((31. 134169) This invention relates to drain cleaners employing a suction cup or fixture and more particularly relates to a device employing increased space within the device itself which may be subjected to suction and which uses a stream of fluid under pressure to set up vibratory pulsations in the suction and pressure applied to the drain.

Dev-ices for cleaning clogged drains and other hard to reach passages include steel tapes or snakes and other instruments adapted to be inserted in the open end of the drain to free the passage of the obstruction. When there are sharp bends or turns in the passage preventing a probing instrument from reaching the obstruction it has long been the practice to cover the open end of the drain with a device comprising a rubber suction cup having a handle and, by working the suction cup up and down, to induce suction and pressure within the open end of the drain for loosening or dislodging the obstruction therein.

These devices, sometimes called plumbers helpers, often cannot loosen large or stubborn obstructions, particularly when the obstruction is at a distance from the open end of the drain. In these cases it is necessary to dig up the drain, which is an expensive and time consuming operation.

It is, accordingly, the principal object of the invention to provide a suction type of drain cleaner which, when applied to the open end of a clogged drain, can loosen an obstruction in the drain at a great distance from the open end thereof.

A further object is to provide a suction type of drain cleaner which can be economically manufactured and is easily applied and yet can set up changes in pressure in an enlarged space to dislodge an obstruction at any distance from the open end of the drain.

A still further object is to provide a suction type of drain cleaner utilizing vibration within the suction app-lying means to provide rapid pulsations in the suction and pressure applied to the obstruction in the drain for loosening the obstruction, and to utilize a readily available source of power for setting up the vibrations.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an inverted longitudinal sectional view of a drain cleaner according to the invention on the line 11 of FIG. 2;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of another form of drain cleaner according to the invention with suction cup omitted; and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the drain cleaner of FIG. 1 shown as applied to the open end of a clogged drain.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 a drain cleaner has a rubber suction cup 11 threaded-1y secured to a handle 12. The handle is tubular in form and has a central chamber 13 and, at the cup-end, a cap member 14 is soldered or otherwise secured to the end of the handle for providing a threaded nipple 15 on which the cup 11 may be secured. The cap member 14 has a central passage 16 connecting the interior of the cup with the central chamber 13.

The other end of the handle 12. has a plug 17, soldered or otherwise secured to the handle, and imbedded in the plug is another tubular member, the vibrator 18. The vibrator tube 18 is rigidly secured at its end to the plug 17 Patented Apr. 16, 1963 and extends cent-rally and axiallyof the handle in chamber 13. The other end of the vibrator is open and facing passage 16 and the interior or central chamber 20 of the vibrator 18 is in communication with chamber 13.

Intermediate the ends of handle 12 a passage 21 through the sidewall of the handle is provided by a nipple 22 which is soldered or otherwise secured in place. Nipple 22 has a threaded connecting portion 23 which is adapted for connection with a hose 24 (FIGURE 4) leading to a source of fluid under pressure.

In operation, the drain cleaner 10 is placed with its cup 11 over the open end or mouth of a drain, indicated at 25 in FIGURE 4, in the usual manner. The hose 24 is connected to a source of fluid under pressure which ordinarily is a water spigot or other outlet since Water is usually available nearby, but air under pressure may alternatively be used.

The suction cup 11 is alternately compressed manually by means of the handle 12 and allowed or made to expand setting up lowered pressure or suction in the drain 25 in the usual manner. The chamber 13 within handle 12 is in communication with the interior of the cup 11 and the volume of space subjected to the suction induced by the cup is increased thereby. The large space subject to the changes in pressure induced by the suction cup 11 provides a volume of fluid at all times which is subject to the changes in pressure, even when the obstruction in the drain is close to the mouth of the drain or the open end of the drain is full of water. Water flowing through hose 24 and passage 21 impinges against the vibrator 18 and sets up transverse or horizontal vibrations of high frequency in the vibrator as indicated by the arrows in FIG- URE l. The vibrations of vibrator 18 are apparently augmented by resonance in the chamber 13 and induce rapid vibratory pulsations. on the manually induced changes of pressure in the drain 25.

Walter flowing in through passage 21 flows down through the chamber 13 and through passage 16 into the interior of the cup 11. From the cup the water flows down into drain 25 or is expelled by the periodic compression of cup 11 -as the variations in suction or changes in pressure are continued in the usual manner by pumping up and down by means of handle 12. Water flowing down into the open end of the drain serves also to flush loosened particles from the block in the passage up to the mouth of the passage.

Although suction cup 11 is shown as cup-shaped it will be understood that a plunger or piston type adapter, which is introduced directly Within the drain pipe or passage to be cleaned, may be used instead of the cup 11. Such adapters induce suction by pumping action in the passage as the adapter is moved away from and toward the open end or mouth thereof.

It has been demonstrated that 900 feet of badly clogged sink drain can be cleaned by the drain cleaner 10, and feet of four inch drain pipe in a service station grease pit which was badly clogged has been cleaned by the device.

In FIGURE 3 a modified form of drain cleaner is shown in which the vibrator may be removed for cleanmg.

The drain cleaner 30' has a cup or adapter, not shown, and a handle 31. At one end a cap 32 is threadedly se cured to the handle and has a nipple 33 threaded for engagement with the cup or adapter. Passage 34 through the cap and nipple leads to the central chamber 35 of the handle.

At the other end of the handle 31 a threaded recess 36 is shouldered at 37 to receive a threaded nipple or hollow boss 38 on a hollow metal ball 39.

The vibrator tube 40 has a flared end 41 which is seated against the shoulder 37 and held in place by the boss 38. Suitable sealing washers 42 and 43 are provided between the flared end or flange 41 and the ball boss 38 and shoulder 37 respectively. Passage 44 in the boss 38 leads from the interior 45 of the ball to the interior or central chamber 46 of the vibrator or tube 40.

Intermediately of the ends of handle 31 a projecting boss 47 has a threaded end 48 adapted to be connected to a water hose. A passage 49 through the boss 47 is connected to another passage 50 in the side Wall of the handle 31 leading down toward the cap 32. The lower end of passage 50 is provided with an inwardly and radially extending nozzle 51 as shown, directed toward the free end of the vibrator '40 which is slanted or biased as shown. The open end of chamber 46 in the vibrator 40, at this end, faces toward the passage 34.

The operation of the drain cleaner 30 is essentially the same as that of the drain cleaner 10 of FIGURES 1 and 2 except that the vibrator 40 may be removed for cleaning by unscrewing the ball 39. The ball when attached to the handle 31 also serves as a convenient hand grip and, being hollow, provides greater resonance or increased volume connected to the chamber 46 for increasing the extent of the fluctuations in pressure in chamber 46'.

The shape of the free end of the vibrator tube 40, cooperating with the flow of Water through the jet nozzle 51 induces lateral vibrations of the vibrator 40 and rapid changes of pressure in the chamber 46 which are impressed on the fluctuations of pressure produced by the cup or adapter used with the device 30. The stream of water, being directed at the end of the vibrator 40, induces vibrations in the vibrator of somewhat lower frequency but of greater magnitude than if the stream of fluid were to impinge upon the vibrator closer to its fixed end 41.

It will be apparent that the handle 31 is adapted to be fashioned of brass or other corrosion resistant metal so as to be easier to keep clean.

The device of FIGURES 1 and 2, as Well as the device of FIGURE 3, may be provided with an ordinary threaded cap to be substituted for the hose to the source of vacuum so that the drain cleaner may be used in conventional manner.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The embodiments disclosed therefore are to be considered in all respects as illustrative rather than restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A passage cleaner adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure for clearing plugged passages, comprising: a resilient suction member adapted to be placed in sealed engagement with the end of a plugged passage, a hollow handle member secured to the suction member at one end and having the other end closed, the interior of the handle member being adapted to be in communication with the passage, a metal tube co-axially disposed within said handle and having a closed end 4 rigidly secured to the handle, the other end of the tube being free, open and adjacent and facing the suction member, and passage means connected -to the source of fluid under pressure leading through the handle wall for directing a stream of fluid at said tube intermediate the ends thereof for vibrating the tube.

2. A drain cleaner adapted to be connected to a source of fluid water pressure for cleaning plugged drains, comprising: a resilient suction cup; a first tubular member having one end closed and the other end connected to said suction cup, there being a passage from the interior of the member to the interior of the cup; a second tubular member of less diameter than said first member and spaced co-axially therein, said second member having one end sealed from communication to atmosphere and secured to said first member, the other end of said second member being free, open and narrowly spaced from said passage; and a second passage in communication with the interior of said first member, one end of said second passage being adapted for connection to the source of fluid under pressure and the other end of said second passage being directed at said second member; whereby, when said suction cup is placed over a plugged drain, and a stream of fluid under pressure is directed at said second tube through said second passage, suction may be induced in the drain and said second tube is vibrated to induce vibratory pulsations in the suction applied to the drain.

3. The drain cleaner of claim 2 having said second passage directed at the second member intermediate the ends thereof.

4. The drain cleaner of claim 2 having said second passage directed at the second member at its end adjacent said first passage.

5. A drain cleaner adapted to be connected to a source of fluid under pressure for clearing plugged drains, comprising: a rubber suction cup having an elongated hollow handle, the interiors of handle and cup being connected by a first passage, and the end of the handle remote from the cup having an annular closure portion, the central opening through the closure being shouldered; a hollow metal ball having a nipple threadedly engaged in said shouldered opening; a metal tube having a flared end seated in said shouldered opening between the shoulder thereof and said nipple to secure said tube within said handle in sealed and spaced co-axial relation thereto, the other end of said tube being free and narrowly spaced from said first passage; a second passage through said ball nipple connecting the interiors of the ball and tube; and a third passage through the side wall of said handle, said third passage including a nipple at one end adapted to be connected to the source of fluid under pressure, the other end of the third passage being directed at said tube for vibration thereof by the flow of said fluid.

Reese Sept. 15, 1914 Allen July 6, 1937 

1. A PASSAGE CLEANER ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED TO A SOURCE OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE FOR CLEARING PLUGGED PASSAGES, COMPRISING: A RESILIENT SUCTION MEMBER ADAPTED TO BE PLACED IN SEALED ENGAGEMENT WITH THE END OF A PLUGGED PASSAGE, A HOLLOW HANDLE MEMBER SECURED TO THE SUCTION MEMBER AT ONE END AND HAVING THE OTHER END CLOSED, THE INTERIOR OF THE HANDLE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO BE IN COMMUNICATION WITH THE PASSAGE, A METAL TUBE CO-AXIALLY DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HANDLE AND HAVING A CLOSED END RIGIDLY SECURED TO THE HANDLE, THE OTHER END OF THE TUBE BEING FREE, OPEN AND ADJACENT AND FACING THE SUCTION MEMBER, AND PASSAGE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE SOURCE OF FLUID UNDER PRESSURE LEADING THROUGH THE HANDLE WALL FOR DIRECTING A STREAM OF FLUID AT SAID TUBE INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF FOR VIBRATING THE TUBE. 